Hybrid passive/active multi-layer energy discriminating photon-counting detector

Abstract

A photon-counting detector apparatus is configured to receive X-rays transmitted from an X-ray source. The photon-counting detector apparatus includes a first photon-counting detector having a first detecting material configured to detect photons using a first set of energy bins. The photon-counting detector apparatus also includes a second photon-counting detector arranged above the first photon-counting detector relative to an incidence direction of the X-rays transmitted from the X-ray source. The second photon-counting detector has a second detecting material configured to detect photons using a second set of energy bins. The first set of energy bins differs from the second set of energy bins.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Field[0002]The exemplary embodiments described herein relate to computed tomography (CT) systems. In particular, exemplary embodiments relate to photon-counting detectors.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]The X-ray beam in most computed tomography (CT) scanners is generally polychromatic. Yet, third-generation CT scanners generate images based upon data according to the energy integration nature of the detectors. These conventional detectors are called energy-integrating detectors and acquire energy integration X-ray data. On the other hand, photon-counting detectors are configured to acquire the spectral nature of the X-ray source, rather than the energy integration nature. To obtain the spectral nature of the transmitted X-ray data, the photon-counting detectors split the X-ray beam into its component energies or spectrum bins and count the number of photons in each of the bins. The use of the spectral nature of the X-ray source in CT is often referre...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a new type of detector for computed tomography (CT) scanners that uses a special material to determine the energy level of X-ray photons. This detector is designed to improve the accuracy and resolution of CT images. The new detector has multiple layers of a combination of a silicon light sensor and a scintillator, which helps to distinguish between different types of X-ray photons. By measuring the energy level of X-ray photons, the detector can improve the detection of small vessels and enhance the accuracy of the CT numbers. This new detector design can be used in third-generation and fourth-generation CT scanners to provide more clinical information and better image quality.

Problems solved by technology

All of these attempts at spectral CT were not successful in substantially solving issues, such as beam hardening, temporal resolution, noise, poor detector response, poor energy separation, etc., for reconstructing clinically viable images.

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